Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany

Apply for a flag certificate

Prerequisites

• You have a ship intended for seafaring (sea vessel), which is suitable for seafaring due to its design, its superstructure and its dimensions, among other things.
  • Open motorboats, inflatable boats and rigid inflatable boats are not classified as seagoing vessels.
  • To assess whether your ship meets this requirement, the following criteria in particular are used:
    • Is the ship certified as CE conformity class A or B?
    • Does the ship have a waterproof deck and enclosed cabin superstructures for extended stays at sea?
• Your ship's home port belongs to an independent municipality or city in Germany, located on a navigable body of water (coast, sufficiently large river, canal or inland lake).
  • If your vessel does not have an actual German home port, it is assumed that the vessel is operated from your place of residence or business. In this case, the port of registration – the location of the maritime register responsible for your (residence) address – is to be listed as the home port.
  • Both the home port and the ship's name must be clearly visible and firmly attached to the ship, with the home port being located at the stern and the ship's name optionally on the side or at the stern.
• Your ship is not registered in a ship register (sea vessel register, inland vessel register or foreign register).

Documents required

Please refer to the link - application forms and information on the flag certificate - for the required documents.

Please note

Deadlines

The flag certificate is valid for 8 years.

Procedure

• On the website of the responsible authority, you have the option of submitting the application online or by post.
  • To apply online, visit the "Flag Certificate" website of the responsible authority and follow the instructions. You can upload supporting documents in various formats.
  • To apply by mail, you can fill out the application form as a PDF file on your computer and print it, or download it and fill it out by hand. Send the completed application form, along with the required documents and supporting evidence, by mail to the responsible authority.
• The relevant authority will review your application.
• Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive the flag certificate.

Processing time

The processing takes approximately 2 weeks.

Fees

88.00 EUR

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Section 22 Flag Law (FlaggRG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/flaggrg/__22.html


Sections 14 and 16 paragraph 1 of the Flag Law Ordinance (FlRV)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/flrv/